Voting 101 The who, what, where, when and how of casting a ballot in Canada's federal election By: Free Press staff Posted: 1:00 PM CDT Monday, Apr. 14, 2025

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/04/2025 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada’s 45th general election will be held on Monday, April 28th, 2025.

Canadians do not vote directly to determine who becomes prime minister. Before an election, each political party chooses a leader. The leader of the political party that has the most Members of Parliament elected becomes prime minister.

Manitoba has 14 Members of Parliament, one to represent the people in each of 14 ridings. Voters in each riding choose which political party’s candidate will become their area’s MP.

You can read more on Canada’s electoral system on Elections Canada’s website.

Who can vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be at least 18 years old on April 28; and
• Prove your identity and address.

Voter registration

Voting is faster and easier if you are registered before the election.  (But you can still register on election day; more on that below.)

If you are already a registered voter, you will receive a voter information card in the mail telling you when and where to vote on election day and in advance voting.

Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered in the National Register of Electors.

Voter information cards have been mailed, and if you are registered you should have received your card by April 11. If you have not received the card, or if information on your voter card is incorrect, you may not be registered or your registration may need to be updated.

You can check to see if you’re already registered or update your registration on the Elections Canada website.

If you are not already registered, you can register to vote by April 22 online, or at your local Elections Canada office. Or, you can register when you go to vote at your assigned polling station on election day.

I’m not registered!

If you’re not on the list or if the registration information is incorrect — for example, you moved or changed your name — you can register or update your information until April 22.

If you do not receive a voter information card before election day, that’s OK. You can still vote! All you need is proof of identity, such as your driver’s licence, and proof of address.

If you do receive a voter information card before election day, take the card and identification with you when you go to vote. It will make the process easier. (More on that below.)

When do I vote?

During advance polling:

Vote at your assigned polling station from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on:

• Friday, April 18
• Saturday, April 19
• Sunday, April 20, or
• Monday, April 21

You can also vote early by visiting an Elections Canada office by April 22 at 6 p.m. The offices are open seven days a week. You can find the Elections Canada office closest to you online.

On election day: Vote on Monday, April 28, between 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., at your assigned polling station.

Your assigned polling station will be listed on your voter information card, and you can also find it online.

How do I vote?

Go to your assigned polling station. You can enter your address on Election Canada’s website to find your assigned polling station for advance and election day voting.

Take identification; here’s what types of ID can be used.

Show your identification and your voter information card, if you brought one, to election officials.  They’ll give you a ballot in a “secrecy sleeve.”

Take your ballot behind the screen and fill in the name of the candidate of your choice.  If you need assistance, an election official can help you or you can take someone with you to help.

Put your ballot back in the sleeve and give it to the election official at the ballot box. They will put your ballot in the box or vote-counting machine.

If you don’t have identification but you are on the voters list: You can still vote on election day (but not in an advance polls). A registered voter in your electoral division who has acceptable ID can vouch for you. The person signs an oath affirming your identity.

Vouching is acceptable only if you are on the voter’s list, and a voter can only vouch for one other voter.

If you’re not on the voters list but you have acceptable ID: You can still vote. You’ll take an oath confirming your identity. If none of your ID shows your address, you’ll also have to sign a declaration of address.

I’m not in Manitoba to vote!

Are you a snowbird? Canadian Armed Forces member? Temporarily studying or working far from home?

Vote by mail: You can apply to vote by mail online or visit an Election Canada office before April 22 at 6 p.m. You will receive a special voting kit, which you will mail back to Elections Canada. More information on voting by mail can be found online.

You can also call Elections Canada to apply.

If you vote by mail, the ballots must be returned to Elections Canada by election day, Monday, April 28. If you are voting from within your riding, ballots must be received by the time polls close in your riding. If you are voting from outside of your riding, ballots must be received by election day at 6 p.m. ET.

If you apply to vote by mail, you are not eligible to vote at advance polls, or in person on election day.